Army Recruiter of the Year
Anika Anderson-Hack stands poised and determined to make the most of her 15 minutes of fame as the 2009 Army Recruiter of the Year. Anderson-Hack, along with other Army recruiters and career counselors was honored in an auspicious ceremony at the Pentagon recently.
The occasion marks the first time that an African American woman medical recruiter has received the distinction. “I went against a number of other recruiters in their respective areas of the Army. I won battalion recruiter of the year and then I still had to compete against the other battalion recruiters,” she explains of the rigorous competition.
Anderson-Hack, who is currently stationed in St. Louis, recruits medical professionals seeking positions in the civilian ranks for service to their country. “For a new doctor, nurse, dietician, or any medical professional coming into the workforce we are very, very competitive compared to what the civilian sector has to offer. … It’s a matter of demystifying the military and peeling back the layers so they can see that in terms of the [ancillary] benefits they are better off with us … especially after you take into account malpractice insurance and student loan repayments,” explains Anderson-Hack.
The career military woman spoke affectionately about the weeklong festivities in Washington, D.C., which included the prestigious Dwight David Eisenhower luncheon where she and other distinguished soldiers were formally recognized and honored by the Association of the United States Army.
The celebrated sergeant also recalled a rare moment that will live on in her memory. “We thought we were crashing a really swank party at a general’s home in Fort Myer. I explained to the person at the door that I promised not to stay and that I just wanted to see what it was like inside, when she said, ‘You’re recruiter of the year. You’re supposed to be here.’ I went in and a general took my coat,” she says laughingly.
This year the Army will recruit some 150,000 soldiers into the active-duty force, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. Anderson-Hack, who has earned a bachelor of arts and a master’s degree, encourages young people to consider careers in the military. “No matter what branch you’re in, make the most of it and get as much as you can out of the experience,” she advises. –roz edward
